Apparatus for localizing the effect of mine explosions.



J. F. BALFOUR.

APPARATUS FOR LOGALIZING THE EFFECT OF MINE EXPLOSIONS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5, 1912.

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APPARATUS FOR LOOALIZING THE EFFECT OF MINE EXPLOSIONS.

APPLICATION FILED JUL'Y5, 1912.

1,102,228, v Patented July 7,1914.

3 SHEBTSSHIEET 2.

wz%z 6666's fizvciz inf Y) I (721-7272 'FB /Z on? J. F. BALFOUR. APPARATUS FOR LOCALIZING THE EFFECT OF MINE EXPLOSIONS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5, 1912.

1,102,228. Patented July 7,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

said pipe under the influence of a weight JOHN FORDYCE BALFOUR, OF EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND.

urma'rus ran LOGALIZING THE nrrncr or MINE EXPLOSIONS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed J uly 5, 1912. Serial No 707,795.

Patented July 7, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that-I, JOHN Fonnron BALP FOUR, a British subject residing zit-Portobello, Edinburgh, in the county of Mid lot-hian, Scotland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Localizing the Efiect of Mine Explosions,

of which the followin is a specification;

This invention has or its object, to reduce and localize-the destructive eiiect of explosions in coal-mines, by establishing at suit able parts of the variousgalleries or levels devices for damping the roads, intercepting the rush of gases, or extinguishing the flames, which devices are called into action automatically by the pressure of the gases inunediately after an explosion has occurred, and prevent. the explosion or the poisonous gases from spreading to other partsof the mine. Such'a device consists of two prin. cipal partsviz: a starting or primary operlating'device, which is situated as closely as possible to a locality, where explosions are liable to occur, and is set in action by any sudden increase oi the normal gas or air pressure, or by the reversal of the air cur;-

. rents, and a. secondary operating device,

which may be situated in the same gallery a or working as the primary or at a considr erable distance from the same and is called.

into action by the "operation of the primary device. The primary devlce may consist of a hinged flap or a cylinder and piston mounted in a lateral recess of the gallery or working, in such a' manner that one side of the fiap-or piston is exposed to the pressure of the gases,arising from an explosion, the said flap or piston being adapted to operate a wire or other transmission apparatus leading to the secondary,device. The said secondary device may consist of a water pipe arranged on the sides, roof and bottom of the gallery or working and provided with slits for the discharge of \water, a tap 01' valve controlling the flow of water to the or a spring, anda releasing mechanism, the whole being so arranged, that the said weight or spring "tends to open the water passage, but is normally h (1 ba k by a device consisting mainl catch or detent connected with the primary operating device, mechanically or electrically, so that the operation of the primary device will release the weight or spring, or act directly on the valve, after which the latter will rapidly open the passage supply-, mg water to the outletsvThe slits in the water discharge pipes'are so arranged, that each slit projects a sheet of water directed obliquely toward the center ofthe gallery, and the different sheets form together the sides of a cone or pyramid, whose base is formed by the ipes and whose apex is directed toward t e. side, where the primary operating device is situated and where explosions are liable to occur.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a erspective view of an apparatus embodylng this invention, Fig. 2. is a vertical section of an electrically controlled valve on a larger scale. Fig. 8 is a cross section of a water pipe alon line A-B of Fig. 1, showing the slit for t e discharge of water, Fig. 4. is a horizontal section of a primary of a pair of flapdoors, Fig. 5 is a vertlcal section, showing ,on a larger scale a mercury-contact apparatus adapted to be operated by a flap or piston. Figs, 6 and 7 show a modification of one of the flap doors shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 7 being a horizontal section-and Fig. 6 an elevation; Figs. 8 and 9 represent a modification of the water pipe shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 10 is avertical section through a pair of water discharge pipes mounted in a gallery; Fig. 11 shows a modification of the mercury contact device shown in Fig. 1.

a is a board mounted on the wall of a galler close to a place, where explosions are lia 1e to occur. The said board carries at the top a movable flap b and a U-shaped glass tube 0 containing mercury. Into one end of the Said tube extends an arm (Z connected with the flap b in such a manner, that, if the latter is caused to turn on its horizontal axle by an explosion, the arm 03 will-descend into the mercury and thereby close the "electriccircuit, of which the two wires 6 and 1 form a part. The said circuit includes a, solenoid g, the core h of which I the valve m closes the water passage 0, but

if the circuit'of the solenoid g is closed, the:

lever i is drawn down, causing the segment lc'to turn into-the position shown by dotted.

lines, and allowing the sprin .n tolift the valve m. ater now flows om the main supply pipe and the branch'pi e 0 into the pipe Q, w ich surrounds the ga leryjand has a slit 7", from which the water escapes in the shape of a pyramid. I

In Fig. which shows another form of the primary device, 8 and s are the two wings of a flap door mounted on a vertical axle along the wall of a gallery. The upper and lower bearings of the said axle are held in a box-frame t' mounted in a recess formed in the wall of the gallery. Ifa sudden rush of gases caused by an explosion takes. place in the direction of the arrow, the gases will turn the large wing s inward, causing the small win 8 to turn into the position indicated by otted line. The further motion of the door is prevented by the contact of the wing s with the stop 6 formed on the framet. The wing s is connected by a wire it with a bolt 41 forming part of the contact device shown in Fig. 5 andpreferably mounted in the box t. When the said bolt is drawn by the motion of the wing 8 the piston to previously held" by the bolt drops into the mercury cup on and closes the circuit of an electric current passing through the wires e and I As indicated y Figs. 6 and 7, the small wing s may have a suitable number of openings (louvers S covered with flaps S adapted to open if the pressure of the ases exceeds a given limit, and subsequent y to close. again by their own weight. a If desired, each water discharge pipe may have two or more parallel slits 1' and r, as indicated by Figs. 8. and 9,'or two or more parallel pipes may be mounted at a short distance apart, so that the sheets of water discharged by the pipes will form two or more cones or pyramids placed one behind the ,other. This modification is illustrated by Fig. 10,,where 1 indicates the discharge pipes provided with slotsr.

For electrical connection the primary device may consist of a u -shaped glass tube y, Fig. 11 partly filled with mercury and sealed at one end, the open end of the tube being exposed to the prcssureof the air or gases,

while the other leg of the tube contains the end of a wire 2 serving to make electric contact wlth the mercury, when the latter is communicating with the said water magnet adapted to set the said locking of exploslons in mines by means of 3 forced up by an increase of air pressure.

to be set in motion by asudden change of air-pressure, a system of water discharge pipes surrounding a section of a gallery situated at a distance from the primary apparatus and provided with narrow water-outlets directed toward the center of the gallery, a water-supply pipe communicating with the said water discharge-pipes, a valve interposed between the said water supplypipe and water-discharge-pipes, and means adapted to operate the said valve under the influence of the said primary device, sub-.

stantia'lly as described.

2 In apparatus for localizing the effects of mine-explosions, the combination of a primary operating device mounted in alocality where explosions are liable to occur and adapted to be set in motion by a sudden change of pressure in the said locality, with a system of water discharge-pipes surrounding a section of a gallery at a distance from the same, and having slits arranged so as to project sheets of water toward the center 0 the gallery in the direction of the said'primary device, a water-supply pipe discharge pipes, a valve interposed between the water supply pipe and the water discharge pipes, an means for operating the said valve under the influence of the said primary device, substantially as described.

3. In apparatus for localizing the effects of mine explosions, the combination of a system 'of water discharge pipes surrounding a section of galle and havin narrow outlets directed tower the center 0 the gallery, with a water supply pi communicating with the said disc urge-pipes a valve interposed between thewater-sup'ply-pipe and the discharge pipes,-.a spring adapted to open the said valve, a locking device adapted to act'on the said springso as to keep the valvein the closing position, andanelectrodevice out of action, substantially as descr bed. 4:. In apparatus for localizingthe effects r1- mary operating device mounted in a loca it where explosions are liable to occur an adapted to be set in motion by a sudden change of air pressure, a primary operating device consisting of a pair of flap-doors,-

mounted opposite each other in lateral reizi cesses of a gallery, each flap-door having a pair of wings placed at an angle to each Intestiniany whereof I have hereunto set other and ada ted to turn on a vertical axis my hand in'presence of two subscribing witat the side 0 the gallery, one wing being nesses movable in a recess of the gallery under the v JOHN FORDYCE BALFOUR. influence of gas-pressure, and the other win Witneesms: being adapted to close the adjacent half 0 Gmonen COBB,

the gallery, substantially as described. Jaw WWW.- 

